Merz and Wadephul appalled at horrific Hamas videos
The Federal Government is demanding the release of all Israeli hostages. It says this is a prerequisite for a ceasefire.
Berlin (dpa) – Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz is outraged by propaganda videos released by the Islamist Hamas group in which Israeli hostages are paraded. “I am appalled by the images of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski. Hamas is torturing hostages, terrorising Israel and using Gaza’s population as a human shield,” Merz told German daily newspaper Bild. “This is precisely why there is no way around a negotiated ceasefire for the time being. The release of all hostages is an absolute prerequisite for this.” Merz added: “Israel will not reciprocate Hamas’ cynicism and must continue to provide humanitarian aid.”
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who on Friday had returned from a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, also expressed his shock. The images showed “the complete perfidy of their tormentors,” Wadephul told Bild newspaper.
In a propaganda video released at the weekend by Hamas, an emaciated hostage, 24-year-old Evyatar David, can be seen in a narrow tunnel in Gaza, where he is reportedly digging his own grave. Previously, Hamas and other Islamist organisations in Gaza had already released similar videos of hostages.